Page 74 of The Hitchhiker in Panama
WhileEikshowed no signs of damage, the crew was not so lucky. Tensions were higher, and Eivind and I were crankier than normal.
Unfortunately, first thing in the morning Eivind had to get out on the deck and wash off presents from overnight visitors: birds had landed on the lifelines and shit on the deck.
After cleanup, Eivind sat on watch in the bright daytime, and we curled up together in the corner of the cockpit, reading. We hadn’t seen a boat in weeks, so we just did regular checks on the horizon every fifteen minutes, and with the autopilot,Eiktook care of herself.
Elayna popped up, asking if we wanted any coffee. We both declined, and she began pulling out supplies, muttering to herself. Cabinet doors slammed, and Eivind and I exchanged concerned looks.
“Eivind, have you seen the Nutella?”
He shifted to lean down and look through the companionway toward Elayna. “No, I have not.”
He paused for a moment, listening. Marcella’s loaves of bread, fresh from the oven only hours earlier, sat on the counter. When they’d first come out, the smell had been torture, and when the loaves were cool enough, we’d all had a slice or two. Now, though, I was thinking about a warm Nutella toastie.
“Oh crap, that sounds good.”
Eivind threw me a smirk, but then a shriek came from the galley.
“WHAT ARE YOU DOING?” Marcella yelled.
Eivind and I scrambled down the companionway. Marcella stared in horror at the mayhem of the galley in the wake of Elayna’s search party. Foodstuff was everywhere: she’d pulled everything out and stacked it all on the table, the counters, the floor.Eikswayed a bit more than usual on a wave and a few items toppled over and spilled onto the couch.
“Everything was organized, Elayna, by meals and categories. You can’t just undo all of my work!”
“If it is so organized, then where is the Nutella?”
“I don’t know. Have something else—don’t tear my galley apart.”
“It’s not your galley.”
“I do all the work in here.”
Jonas stumbled out of his room. “What the hell is happening?”
“Someone ate all the Nutella,” Elayna whined.
“I ate the Nutella.” Jonas looked at her, bewildered. “It is for everyone.”
Elayna groaned. “It is my favorite, and that was our last jar.”
“You will have to have something else.”
“You can have some Vegemite,” I offered.
“Shut up!” Elayna snapped.
“Hey, watch it,” Eivind said. “She is trying to help.”
“How is that helpful?”
“It’s an alternative!” Eivind threw up his hands. “The Nutella is gone, so move on.”
“There is no alternative to Nutella.”
Suddenly I didn’t think we were talking about Nutella anymore.
“Okay, calm down, ja?” Jonas held his hands out imploringly. “This is only so bad because we are all feeling a little cabin fever right now. It is not a big deal.”
Elayna crumpled, tears springing to her eyes. “Of course you do not think it is a big deal.”
